It is centred on a widening of the inner city plain around the lower reaches of the Water of Leith, and on land reclaimed from the Otago Harbour, including the former Pelichet Bay.

The suburb is not entirely flat, however, as a spur of Signal Hill extends across the plain to the south of the Dunedin Botanic Gardens, rising into the small peak of Tani Hill immediately to the northeast of the University of Otago.

The hill's name, not officially recognised and nowadays rarely used, is a corruption of "Botanic Hill", and dates from the time when the Dunedin Botanic Gardens were located on the site now occupied by the university.

The University of Otago is the most notable feature of Dunedin North, covering 25 hectares (62 acres) of the suburb.

Between this and the mouth of the Leith is the new Forsyth Barr Stadium at University Plaza, completed in 2011 on former industrial and warehousing land close to the edge of Otago Harbour.

Immediately to the north of the College of Education is a wide expanse of open parkland, Logan Park.

These grounds and the Forsyth Barr Stadium between them make this part of Dunedin one of the country's major sporting hubs.

The small Opoho Creek flows along the edge of Logan Park before its confluence with the Leith close to the latter's mouth.

Beyond the institutional heart of the suburb, Dunedin North is primarily residential, with much of the area occupied by student flats.

It was founded in 1974 when King Edward Technical College split to form Logan Park and Otago Polytechnic.